Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Dyan on April 26, 2013, 08:16:24 AM
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Hi all,
I have been dipping in and out of the forum to see what's been happening as I've been really good -until now.
I think I'm having another meno blip.
I'm on 3mg sandrena gel daily and this has kept me on an even keel until,like I said,now.
I haven't been too good with all these bugs going around but now I'm feeling really anxious,clammy hands,disconnected from everything,tired all the time,totally out of it.
Scared to go anywhere.
I do recognise these symptoms as I've had them several times before hence the title "Another Blip!!!"
I do have an appointment with the gp this morning.
Usually I've needed more sandrena.
I was going to up it myself this morning but I'm one of those people who needs confirmation that this is the right thing to do.
Is anyone out there on 4mg sandrena.
I am 52.
I have a lot going on in my life at the moment and I'm scared that if I tell the gp that she won't let me up the gel.
Thanks for listening.
Just feel desperate again but this time I have been good for a lot longer than the times before.
I'll stop now as I'm running on- sorry ladies!
Dyan x
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hello Dyan, sorry to hear that you are suffering. I too am seeing my GP today regarding my symptoms which are very like yours, I especially identify with feeling frightened of going anywhere. I am not taking any HRT at the moment so I cannot comment on the Sandrena question, I just wanted you to know that you are not alone on this journey and wish you well.
K.
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Hello Kathleen,
Sorry to hear you're not so good and Thank you for your reply.
I saw my GP and she seems to think that my anxiety is because of what's happening in my life at the moment and I'm on a high dose of sandrena hrt so an increase wouldn't make any difference.
She has prescribed me Mirtazapine 15mg at night.
At first I was annoyed she didn't up the hrt as this has worked in the past but I suppose there comes a point where you are at your limit.
I also take Fluoxetine for my OCD and have now for 8 years.
When I got home from the Drs I had a good old howl and I must admit it did make me feel a little better.
I feel for you and hope you get on ok at the doctors.
You can PM me if you prefer.
:bighug: love Dyan X
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I thought you'd been quiet ::)
A good old howl - wish I *Could* cry :-\ - it would flush out my system of any low mood botherations
What has the GP given you, I don't recognise the name?
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Hi CLKD,
I can always rely on you to reply to my posts :) and yes I have been quiet mainly because I have had a good run on the meno front( until now) and I've had family stuff going on.
The doctor prescribed me Mirtazapine - zispin -15mg at night to help with the anxiety.
I remember having this in the priory where I was diagnosed with OCD ( accompanying anxiety & depression)
I now only take fluoxetine 80mg for the OCD,8 years now.
I might have mentioned all this before.
Dyan x :)
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Hi dyan
Just letting you know that mirtazapine has been a godsend for me. I'm taking 30mg for hormone associated anxiety which was very bad 18 months ago. It calmed me down almost immediately and helped me sleep. Watch out for dizziness though, although that may not be a problem for you on 15mg. Stick with it, i had a few ups and downs but am feeling much better. Hope you'll be feeling well again soon.
Take care delilah. X
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<wave to both> : little steps. Try to rest for a few days until you get used to the new medication ;) ......... any blip in life style can increase the incidence of OCD kicking in ::) ..... for me it's hand washing :(
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Thanks Delilah & CLKD <waves>
Delilah- that's reassuring to know.
Glad you are doing well on them.
CLKD- those 2 famous words :)
Always think of you at times like this.
You are right about the OCD.
It kicks in when I'm low & anxious.
Mine is thoughts.
Dyan X
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I get flash backs - which hit as I'm dropping off to sleep ........ guilt, enough to make me shout out :-\ - then I have to tell DH it's the pain in my big toe joint ......... I remember well those rushing thought patterns that wouldn't stop when I was VERY depressed. DH asked me what I was thinking about to make me so scared, well my brain didn't hang around long enough for me to even remember ........ thoughts rushed through and out >:( :-\ ..........
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Know exactly what you mean CLKD.
My worst ever time was 8 years ago when I had to go into the priory.
Best thing I did.
I had a diagnosis and proper treatment after 36 years of suffering.
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36 years :o oh have a :hug:
I wonder in hindsight why we battle on :-\ ....... for me it was lack of acceptance. I wanted to know what was causing my depression, was it hormonal or genetic. No one was interested enough to refer me for any tests - had I been wanting to get pregnant though, hormone tests would have been available.
The phobia ruled my Life so I suppose apart from period pains, anything else was a lesser issue. So I went from GP/Therapist/Counsellor ::) but it did enable me to talk any anger out. Now I have to make sure that I listen to DH when he points out that I am becoming obsessive about things - and I do tend to notice it more in myself these days ..........
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Thanks CLKD.
I wasn't getting anywhere with the NHS so I went private.
I dread to think what would have happened otherwise.
Lets not go there- onwards and upwards!
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Little steps. Making sure that you are hydrated and not hungry before bed can make a difference to those early morning blues. Have biscuits by the bed to eat if you wake in the night/early morning. I find that when I mark my anxiety 1-5 on the calender I can look back and see that I did survive: it wasn't pleasant but I am still here ;) .......... issues which cause stress levels to rise can affect us quite quickly so take care of YOU!
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Hi Dyan, i havent been on myself for a while with probs but just wanted to say i am thinking of you and hope you feel better real soon x
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Hi sweetooth,
Thanks for that.
Thinking of you too. X
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Hi Dyan, just read your post and can really identify with how you are feeling- especially the anxiety and feeling scared of going anywhere- I have been menopausal for years now and have had these feelings on and off apart from when I went 18 months with no periods and felt great, then the bleeding started up again and I was back to square one again! After trying countless remedies- acupuncture, herbs, reiki, ad'S etc, have finally given in and gone onto hrt- am still having blips and after upping the dose have had constant heavy bleeds which seem to be wiping me out and giving me even more anxiety etc- hoping to see gp next week to get myself sorted. Really hope you pick up soon and lots of hugs to you :) :)
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Hi mags,
Thanks for your post.
:bighug: to you too.
It is awful this meno lark >:(
Anxiety is my worst symptom.
I don't know if you have been on my 'Mirtazapine" thread?
My GP gave me this AD 15mg 10 days ago now and I feeling that it is working already.
The first night I took it I woke with hardly any anxiety.
It did leave me feeling zonked for most of the morning so I took it a little earlier the next night and it was better.
I am now waking a bit more brighter and as the day goes on I am gradually getting back to being 'Me' although I still feel a bit numb sometimes.
What hrt are you taking mags?
I'm on 3mg sandrena gel each morning.
I thought my GP would have put me up again like before when I've had blips but she said I was on a high dose and she wanted to sort out the anxiety.
I must admit I was a bit annoyed that she didn't say 'up the gel',because it has worked before,but the Mirtazapine seems to be doing the job.
I just feel I need to burst out of this bubble I'm in to feel completely back to normal- whatever that is? ;D
I don't know about you, but I definitely know when I'm not right and how I should be.
I don't know how you feel about ADs but they have brought a lot of relief for anxiety for a lot of women on here.
I'm just looking forward for them to get me back to me.
Love Dyan X
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Hi Dyan , and thanks for your reply- I am taking femoston conti, started in Dec last year on o.5MGS and upped it to 1mg two months ago, but am still havng the anxiety/depression/ dreads and horrible flat feelings along with heavy bleeds, however it does seem to have stopped the insomnia and hot flushes- just wish I could get this whole meno horror sorted as it has gone on for so long- 10yrs I think- my worst symptom has certainly been the anxiety and depression which totally floors me at times! I have been on Prozac for 5yrs but it doesn't seem to be helping much with the anxiety and depression. Have been referred to a psychiatrist by my gp to assess me and my medication so will have a look at your thread on Mirtazipin- it must be good if it works so quickly. Yes I too find that I just know when I'm not feeling right as I just seem to lose interest in everything and can't seem to feel any joy whatsoever in life- it is truly awful and so wrong that so many of us have to suffer like this with little support from gp s etc- I have worked my way through many useless ones- one (Male of course) told me that it wasa all too easy for us women to blame everything on the menopause-very understanding-NOT!!
Sorry it's a bit of a rambling post and lots of hugs - Mags :) :).
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Hello again mags,
HRT has helped me a lot with meno symptoms i.e hot flushes,night sweats etc and it does with anxiety and depression but I do still have blips now & again.
I also take Prozac,have done for 8 years now 80mg daily.
I was prescribed this when I was diagnosed with OCD,an illness I had been suffering with from as far back as I can remember.
I was always treated with ADs each time because I had depression & anxiety but what the NHS couldn't see was that they were caused by OCD.
I had to go private 8 years ago when I had a breakdown.
It was the best thing I ever did going into hospital.There I was prescribed the right treatment at the right dose.
I know exactly what you mean about the dreads and feelings of flatness.
I feel very flat myself at the moment.
The Mirtazapine has really helped with the anxiety and I know that the depression with lift and my feelings will come back.
Normally ADs take weeks to make you start to feel better but I read on the Internet that Mirtazapine is one of the ADs that start to work the quickest.
I was actually on this when I was admitted to hospital but at a much higher dose.
I gradually came off it within a year and have stayed on the Prozac which is the one to control my OCD.
My HRT nurse told me that I'm more prone to getting anxiety in meno because of my medical history.
I do hope you can get some help from your GP next week.
I really feel for you.
Thinking of you.
Bye for now
Dyan X
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Hi Dyan, and thanks for your lovely post- it's so good to know that I'm not the only one having all these weird feelings! What I really wanted to ask was, do you take Mirtazapine as well as the Prozac? if so I might just mention it to the psychiatrist - if it takes away the morning anxiety- waking in terror etc, then it must be good. I am terrified of coming off the Prozac as I felt terrible the last time I tried to cut down- even though it didn't seem to be helping much. I do hope that you start to feel less flat soon- I know just how it feels- I think that people who have never been through it just don't understand how terrible it makes you feel- when I have it really bad I can barely function and just want to hide myself away from everyone and feel that I just don't want to be here. Am seeing my gp this aft as I feel I can't hang on until next week!
Thanks again for your kind words and helpful advice- magsxx
:bighug: :bighug:
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Do you perhaps need to up the dose of the Prozac? For 3-4 months? Or are you taking the optimum doseage? Let us know how you get on!
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Hi Mags,
Yes I do take Prozac as well as the Mirtazapine.
The Prozac I have been taking now for 8 years for my OCD and the Mirtazapine for just 11 days for the anxiety.
I take 80mg Prozac in the morning and the recent 15mg Mirtazapine at night.
I know exactly that feeling mags of wanting to hide yourself away.
When I'm bad I just like to be 'at home' in my 'comfort zone' doing nothing much,telly on,cuppa and something nice to eat.
I usually let myself go a bit when I'm bad.I think what the h*** and just eat whatever I fancy.
People who have never experience anxiety and depression just haven't a clue about how we feel even though some people have said to me," I know how you feel.I felt depressed/down/low/fed up yesterday" >:(
It is difficult for our other halves too if they haven't experienced it.
My hubby is very understanding but at the same time says he feels helpless and doesn't know what to do for me.
I tell him,just being here,lots of cuddles ::) and cup of teas ;D helps a lot!
Please let me know how you get on with GP this afternoon.
:bighug:love Dyan X
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My daughter has OCD and is having a lot of trouble getting specialised NHS help for it.
She is on 20mg prozac and 40mg prozac on alternate days. She tried 40mg each day but it made her feel dizzy and dreamy (her words) so she didnt want to continue with it.
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Hi, it.s me again! thanks to you all for your very helpful replies- went to see GP this aft and he was really helpful, has suggested stopping the hrt for now to see if the bleeding stops, and if it doesn't, will have to get things investigated- he did seem to be under the impression though that it was probably the hrt- am bit worried about withdrawal symptoms, even though I've only been on it for a few months.
Many Thanks again for your support and hope we all improve soonxx
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Hi Dyan
I know the anxiety feeling I have had this most of my life but seems to get worse with meno, I suffer with Agoraphobia which is much worse when my meno symptoms are bad... its so awful...hope this message finds you feeling a little beter xxxx
Michele xx
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ahhhhhh, I really do hope you both feel better soon :hug:.
I too have suffered with anxiety on and off for years :(
I too have thought processes that I recognise when I am going 'down'.
I've recently realised my anxiety has been linked to hormones, 10 year ago my hubby had a vasectomy so I stopped taking the pill (had been mostly Ok on the pill as I recall - never had mood swings or PMS)
After I stopped taking the pill my PMS started with a vengeance - along with anxiety in 2nd half of cycle :( I also had PND after my babies - again hormonal, obviously. It would appear I am intolerant to progesterone because I have had the very same symptoms which are very recognisable feelings to me, whilst I've been on HRT in the progesterone phase.
For me my symptoms are mainly paranoia (mild - but still enough to bring me down) I think no-one likes me and I am boring, not good enough etc etc. :(
and I can associate with the actual crying out because of memories and feelings of guilt too! :-\
I've done that - usually after something from years ago just pops into my mind and it all becomes too much :'(
I also get so I don't want to go out of the house :(
We moved to a house in the country, and my kids go to school by taxi. I don't know many people and the more time goes on I really cannot be bothered to try change anything!! :-\
Sorry, I've rambled on but I wanted to sympathise!
on the other hand I do like a good giggle and I don't want to be DEFINED by my fluctuating hormones! I'm still young a heart, enjoy a night out, have lots of fun with my hubby and kids travelling and holidays etc!! So it's not all gloom!! ;D ;D
If anyone wants to PM me I'd be happy to chat, or on here.
You're NOT alone! :hug:
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Hi carol44- thanks for your post and words of support.
I've had anxiety on & off all my life due to the OCD I have and meno does make it worse for me too when symptoms are bad.
:bighug: for you.
Love Dyan x
Hi Clovie,
Thanks for your post too.
It is so nice to know that we are not alone in all this.
:bighug: for you too.
Love Dyan x
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"and I can associate with the actual crying out because of memories and feelings of guilt too!
I've done that - usually after something from years ago just pops into my mind and it all becomes too much ........ " yep :-\
At least if I don't make any more local 'friends' I won't have to keep justifying myself ;)
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I too have been muddling along feeling okayish, then have been floored by two things, one having a tilt table test to see if I have something called POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia), which basically means that blood pools in my feet rather than being pumped around my body efficiently when I stand up. I lasted 3 minutes in the tilt table before passing out, so I am waiting to see a cardiologist, which has left me with mixed feelings, glad that I've finally got a diagnosis after years of not knowing but also feeling low about the way it seems to be impacting on my life. Secondly, I also feel that when my POtS is worse, so are my meno symptoms. My GP has upped my hrt patch today to 100 evorel sequi, so will see if things improve at all.
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:bighug: for you lizzog.
Never heard of POTS.
Hope things go ok for you lizzog.
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Hi Dyan, and to all of you for your lovely replies to my posts- just wanted to give you a quick update- am now off the hrt completely as it hardly did a thing for the anxiety and depression and also caused a lot of heavy bleeding, so GP has advised me to taper off my Prozac and try a new antidepressant- I suggested the mirtrazapine to him and he seemed to think it would be ok, am scared to death of withdrawals from the Prozac ( have to taper off it over a month then start new one)- but having said that, it doesn,t ever seem to have done anything to help my symptoms anyway- also worried about the mirtrazapine-have heard it can cause drowsiness and weight gain- I know that you are on it Dyan and was really looking for a bit of reassurance- did you find it really effective for the adrenalin rushes, especially on waking , and the flat feelings and dread? This anxiety really scares the wits out of me and the thought of it getting worse is worrying me- my husband is very supportive but says that I think about the negative side of things too much- true I know , but I can't help it. I know I must sound really pathetic, but any advice about what to do would be very much appreciated- sorry for rambling on about myself and big meno hugs to you all :) :)
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Hi mags,
Only just seen your post.
Firstly, you do not sound pathetic.it is understandable to be anxious.
From the first night I took Mirtazapine it took away that dreaded anxiety you wake up with but it left me feeling like I was still half asleep and took me a few hours to come round.
This lasted a few days and I noticed that I was feeling calm but disconnected from real life.
After the first week I began to feel better,although I wasn't with it.
I felt I was in a bubble.
The second week I was feeling better still.
I was waking better without that half asleep feeling and feeling more positive.
The third week I was almost there. That bubble just had to pop :o
I saw my GP then and she was pleased at how quickly the medication had started to work.
A couple of days later I was really good and the old me had come back ;D
I've now finished 4 weeks on 15mg and I feel brilliant!
My GP has kept me on that dose for another 4 weeks and I am on repeat prescription and she's leaving it to me to let her know how I'm doing.
The Mirtazapine made me drowsy initially and I was finding that I was needing a nap in the afternoons.
The mornings are good. No anxiety from day one,feelings of calm.
None of that dreaded fear in just a few days.
As to the weight gain,I had put on a few pounds anyway,before the mirtazapine,so I put myself back on weight watcher points to get those off and I have.
I'm just being a bit careful really but having the odd treat. ::)
Your GP is right on tapering you off the Prozac before you start on Mirtazapine.
As long as you do that then you shouldn't have a problem and when you start to take Mirtazapine it will probably help to keep you calm whilst the Prozac gets out of your system,if you know what I mean.
Keep in touch mags.
It will be nice to know how you are getting on.
You can PM me anytime you like if you prefer.
Lots love
Dyan X :)
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Dear Dyan, thank you sooooooo much for being so understanding and replying to my post- it really has put my mind at rest and made me feel a lot better about everything, the Mirtazapine sounds as though it has worked really well for you, so here's hoping! I will maybe pm you sometime when I can work out how to do it- meno brain !! Hoping that you continue to feel better and thankyou again for being so helpful- Lots of Love to you too-Magsxx :)
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You're very welcome mags :)
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Hi Dyan , and thanks for your reply- I am taking femoston conti, started in Dec last year on o.5MGS and upped it to 1mg two months ago, but am still havng the anxiety/depression/ dreads and horrible flat feelings along with heavy bleeds, however it does seem to have stopped the insomnia and hot flushes- just wish I could get this whole meno horror sorted as it has gone on for so long- 10yrs I think- my worst symptom has certainly been the anxiety and depression which totally floors me at times! I have been on Prozac for 5yrs but it doesn't seem to be helping much with the anxiety and depression. Have been referred to a psychiatrist by my gp to assess me and my medication so will have a look at your thread on Mirtazipin- it must be good if it works so quickly. Yes I too find that I just know when I'm not feeling right as I just seem to lose interest in everything and can't seem to feel any joy whatsoever in life- it is truly awful and so wrong that so many of us have to suffer like this with little support from gp s etc- I have worked my way through many useless ones- one (Male of course) told me that it wasa all too easy for us women to blame everything on the menopause-very understanding-NOT!!
Sorry it's a bit of a rambling post and lots of hugs - Mags :) :).
im on sandrena and have been on oestrogel..sandrena has less of a carrying ingrediant than oestrogel so you dont need as much gel to get the same amuont of oestrogen...a plus if like me you need a lot of oestrogel. I use 3 sachets (1mg) a day.. my friend is on 4 sachets a day and gets levels of about 1100 plus maca (http://www.biomaca.fr) you can also use the same place for your sandrena...you will build up your own little matrix patch there, i use my left outer arm. ive not been able to find any info as to whether its a synthetic or bio identical form oe oestrogen either!
thanks for the info :)